Earlier appearance of the ossification center of the femoral head in breast-fed versus formula-fed infants

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate possible differences in the rate of appearance of the femoral head ossification center (FHOC) in infants according to the type of feeding (exclusive breast-feeding, formula, mixed feeding). Methods A retrospective study was conducted in a population of 285 healthy infants who consecutively underwent echographic evaluation of the hip as a screening for hip dysplasia from April 1 through October 31, 2008. For each infant, type of feeding, sex, gestational age, weight at birth, and age at the time of echographic examination were recorded. Data analysis was performed in the entire sample population and in a subpopulation of 143 infants af…